Operating mechanism for closure members of discharge outlet assemblies and method of assembling the same



2,690,137 CHARGE E SAME W; F. BATHO Sept. 28, 1954 OR CLOSURE MEMBERS OFDIS OPERATING MECHANISM F OUTLET ASSEMBLIES AND METHODS OF ASSEMBLING THFiled March 20, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet l 6 INVENTOR. Walk/72215424720, BY Wflaw ll. Ill

Sept. 28, 1954 w. BATHQ v 2,690,137

OPERATING MECHANISM FOR CLOSURE MEMBERS OF DISCHARGE OUTLET ASSEMBLIESAND METHODS OF ASSEMBLING THE SAME Filed March 20, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet 2INVENTOR.

Sept. 28, 1954 w, BATHQ 2,690,137

OPERATING MECHANISM FOR CLOSURE MEMBERS OF DISCHARGE OUTLET ASSEMBLIESAND METHODS OF ASSEMBLING THE S E Filed March 20, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet 5INVENTOR. Wdlmfiz Ffiaika,

METHODS OF ASSEMBLING THE SAME p 28, 1954 w. F. BATHO OPERATINGMECHANISM FOR CLOSURE MEMBERS OF DISC OUTLET ASSEMBLIES AND Filed March20, 1950 4 t e e h a E e e h S 4 INVENTOR. YWLZZLCZUZ Ffiaifia M17 MMPatented Sept. 28, 1954 OPERATING MECHANISM FOR CLOSURE MEMBERS OFDISCHARGE OUTLET AS- SEMBLIES AND METHOD OF ASSEM- BLIN G THE SAMEWilliam F. Batho, Chicago, Ill. assignor to Enterprise Railway EquipmentCompany, Chicago,

111., a corporation of Illinois Application March 20, 1950, Serial No.150,662

Claims.

This invention relates to an improved operating means for a closuremember, such as employed for varying the size of a discharge outlet forthe discharge opening of a load containing hopper and methods forassembling the same.

The objects of the invention among others are: To provide an improvedmeans for retaining a geared pinion in a definite position in relationto an operating shaft without the necessity of forming apertures in theshaft; to facilitate the assembly of geared pinions with an operatingshaft; to improve the method of mounting the same on an outlet frame;and to provide pockets on an outlet frame for maintaining geared pinionsin definite spaced relation independently of the operating shaftcarrying them.

This improved construction is especially desirable for use in connectionwith outlets of railway hopper cars such as are employed in handlingcement, lime and similar compacted materials where great force andmultiplied leverage are usually necessary for moving the closure memberunder the weight of the lading. In such service it is customary toprovide pinions of comparatively small diameter in order to obtain thenecessary leverage. The use of small diameter pinions in turnnecessitates the employment of a comparatively small shaft which, byreason of its limited size, requires heat treatment and special alloysto obtain the required strength. In view of the small size of the shaftand the hardness of the material associated with special steel andhardening, the provision of apertures in the shaft for receiving pins tohold the pinions is not desirable. Furthermore the presence of holes toreceive rivets or pins materially weakens the shaft.

It is therefore another object of this invention to eliminate rivets orsimilar holding means for the pinions which require perforation orweakening of the shaft and to substitute therefor stop means on theframe or hopper structure which will retain the pinions against axialmovement independently of any connection with the shaft.

For a more complete comprehension of this invention reference may be hadto the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a frame and gate assembly, with the piniongears and associated shaft indicated thereon, a portion of the gatebeing broken away to show more clearly the parts identified with thisimprovement;

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional elevational view of the structure shownin Figure l and taken on line 2-2 thereof; s

Figure 3 is a vertical end elevational view of 2 the assembly shown inFigure l as viewed from right to left;

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view taken through the outlet frame online 4- 3 of Figure 2 showing the frame construction with the shaft,pinion gears and associated parts omitted;

Figure 5 is a vertical end view, similar to Figure 3, showing the shaftand pinions in --position with the end bearing members and retaining.pins in disassembled relation;

Figure 6 is a vertical sectional view on an enlarged scale taken throughthe assembly on a line t-S of Figure 1;

Figure '7 is a scectional view, on an enlarged scale, taken through thetransverse end wall of the frame adjacent one of the abutment wallmembers as viewed on a line 77 of Figure l; and

Figure 8 is a plan view of an assembly similar to that shown in Figure1, showing a modified form of the invention.

In the drawings, the invention is illustrated as embodied in an outletassembly of a load containing hopper such as employed for the dischargeopening of a railway car hopper. A load containing hopper is indicatedin Figures 2 and 3, generally, by side walls [0 and ll which meet withend sloping walls I? and It to form a four-sided hopper l4 having arectangularly shaped discharge opening I5.

Enclosing the lower portion of the four sides of the hopper I 4 is aunitary frame it having a sliding gate I! carried thereby which isprovided on its under side with rack teeth l8. Cooperating with the rackteeth E8 of the gate H are pinions l9 which are non-rotatably mounted onan operating shaft 20. The shaft 20 is journalled in the frame 16 and isprovided at one end with an operating head Zl. At the opposite end theshaft 29 is fitted with a combined bearing and stop member 22. The headM is maintained against lengthwise movement by a rivet 23 and thebearing and stop member 22 is likewise maintained against lengthwisemovement relative to the shaft 20 by a headless pin 25%. The manner inwhich these parts are assembled will be set forth presently.

The frame 16 in its preferred form includes an upper wall portion lyingabove the gate El and formed with walls 25,26, 21 and 28 which overliethe respective walls H], H, l2, and it of the hop per it. The frame It,below the gate 17,15 formed with a four-sided chute-like portion havingwalls of appreciable depth including side-walls 29 and 30 which arespaced inwardly from the adjacent upper walls and 25 a suflicientdistance to provide flat runway surfaces 3! at each side of the frame ISon which the gate I1 is adapted to have lengthwise sliding movement.

The four walls of the chute are completed by transverse walls 32 and 33which extend between the respective side walls 29 and 3D. The end wall32 is spaced from the upper wall 21 to provide an end ledge 3A disposedon a level corresponding to the level of the side runway surfaces 3 l-3land forms therewith a three-sided supporting surface for the gate l'i.

The end wall 33 extends tranversely below the gate ii and is provided atits upper margin with a flat horizontal wall 35. At the lower portion ofthe frame It there is a laterally outwardly extending structure whichprojects from the lower margin of the chute walls 2t, 3t, 32 and 33.This structure on two adjacent sides is in the form of a flangeindicated at 35 and on the other two adjacent sides, as indicated at 31and 38 in Figure 2, is in the form of channel section presenting aninwardly facing groove 39. The flange 36 and the groove 39 are for thepurpose of accommodating a removable extension chute (not shown). Theflange 36 and channel sections ill and 38 operate to strengthen the foursides of the frame 16.

As shown in Figure 7, the outstanding grooved section 3i extends inparallelism with the upper transversely disposed wall 35 and incombination with this wall and the wall 33 forms a substantially channelshaped beam member. Projecting forwardly beyond the beam member asformed by walls 33, 35 and 3t; and disposed at each side of the frame.are vertical side wall extensions 40 which are each provided with abearing portion ii presenting an annular bearing for rotatablysupporting the operating shaft 20.

The operating shaft 2!] is preferably of rectangular cross sectionthroughout and circular hub bearing end portions to form journals areprovided on members 2! and 22 at each end of the shaft 20 to seat in theannular portion of bearings 4i carried by the side wall extension iil.The circular bearing portion atthe outer end of shaft is is preferablyformed integrally with the head 2| as indicated at Q? in Figure 5 and atthe opposite end of the shaft it in the circular bearing portion isincorporated with the bearing and stop member 22 as indicated at 43. Thebearing member 22 is maintained in position on the shaft 28 by theheadless pin M which is just long enough to extend through the bearingportion 13. It is held in place on assembly by the inner surface of thebearing portion ll. The member 22 is provided with a stop collar 44which cooperates with the outer face of the bearing portion ii formedintegrally with the frame it to limit outward movement of the shaft 20.Similarly at the opposite end of the shaft 20 there is provided a stopcollar 45 on the head 2! which, in cooperation with the adjacent bearingportion 4 i, limits inward movement of the shaft 20. The shaft 28 is,therefore, maintained in position and restrained against axial movementin either direction and the entire structure is locked in place inoperative position by the rivet 23.

The pinion gears 19, which are preferably two in number, are slidablymounted on the shaft 20 and non-rotatably related thereto since each isformed with a central rectangularly shaped opening 41, as shown inFigure 2, corresponding substantially in shape and size to the shaft 20.The pinions l9 are formed with gear teeth 48 bearing portion 4i andthrough the which mesh with the rack teeth 18 of the gate H and adjacenteach side wall at, Figure 3, of the pinions 19 there is disposed asegmental shaped guiding wall 5%, Figure '7, which extends forwardlyfrom the frame it and is prefera ly formed integrally with the end wallstructure thereof as provided by walls 33, 35 and 3?. Each pair of walls5i)-5t thus combines to form a pocket 5| within the confines of whicheach pinion gear i9 is held against axial movement relative to the shaft20 and independently of any connection therewith. The walls are eachformed with a comparatively heavy pad portion 52, Figure 4, lying in theplane of the shaft 2t and extending substantially normal thereto toembrace as much of the side walls id of the pinions !9 as to straddletwo teeth of each. The outer edge of segmental shaped wall {it is ofarcuate shape as at 53, Figure 7, and is formed on a radius centeringfrom the axis of rotation of the shaft 2% to clear it in its rotatingmovement. The inner face of each wall at on each side of the pad portion52 flares outwardly as indicated at 55 to present an outwardly flaringpocket structure for guiding the pinions it in their rotary movement ineither direction. They prevent the pinions ill from impinging on theside walls 50.

It will be observed that the pinions itare held in operative position onthe shaft 2ft relative to the rack teeth It by the pockets 5i formed bythe segmental guiding walls hi. They cannot shift axially along theshaft 29. No openings be provided in the shaft fit to receive rivets tohold the pinions it in place. Thus the shaft is not weakened by theprovision of such openings.

The advantages of the invention may be best realized by following thesequence of assembly operations in the mounting of the shaft 2% andpinions I9. Assuming the pinions is centralized in the pockets 5i, theshaft it with the end ing and stop member 22 held in position by meansof the headless pin 24 is threaded from right to left, as viewed inFigure 5, through the openings it of the pinions is. It is moved axiallyuntil stop collar .4 contacts the face of the cent bearing portion il,the headless pin ing then held in place by the inner surface the annularbearing ti, as shown in Figure The operating head H is then telescopedover the left hand end of the shaft 21? and secured thereon by the rivet2?. It will thus be appreciated that the rivet 2-3 is the key memberholding the entire assembly in place and consequently the assembly ordismantling of the shaft and vpinions iii may be conveniently andquickly effected from .an accessible location.

If desired, the shaft be threaded through the pinions it from eitherdirection through one or the other of the bearing portions ll. Then thecombined bearingand member 22 can be applied. the headless pin itinserted. The shaft 2%} is shifted to the left as viewed in Figure 5 toplace the bearing 33 in the bearing portion at. Finally, the operatinghead 25 is assembled on the left hand end of the shaft 2i! and the rivetis inserted headed over.

In the alternate construction shown in Figure 8, each pinion I9 isformed with an extended hub portion bib which operates as a stop memberto limit axial movement in one direction by contact with the adjacentside wall extension to of the frame it and an abutting wall 82,extending from the transverse wall 33, operates to limit axial movementof the pinions 19' in the opposite direction. Inthis embodiment of theinvention the outer corner edge 63 of each pinion [9 adjacent theabutting wall 62 is rounded or beveled as indicated to preventinterference therebetween.

What is claimed as new is:

1. For combination with a load containing hopper having a dischargeopening, a generally horizontally slidable gate for closing said openingand adapted to have the load in the hopper bear against its uppersurface thereby requiring the application of substantial force to movethe same to the open position; means for moving said gate includinginterengaging rack and pinion means carried by the underside of saidgate and said hopper respectively, said pinion means having anon-circular uniform aperture therethrough, a shaft having anon-circular solid cross-section substantially from one end to the otherrotatably mounted on said hopper and extending through and unattached tosaid pinion means whereby the same is rotatable with and axiallyslidable on said shaft and torque applied to said shaft for rotatingsaid pinion means and moving said gate loaded as aforesaid istransmitted thereto through said shaft where the same is of solidcross-section and unlikely to be broken by the application of suchtorque, and means for applyin operating torque to said shaft at alocation where the same is of solid cross-section between said locationand said pinion means; and means limiting relative axial movementbetween said shaft and pinion means including fixed abutment meanscarried by said hopper and cooperating with said pinion means.

2. For combination with a load containing hopper having a dischargeopening, a generally horizontally slidable gate for closing said openingand adapted to have the load in the hopper bear against its uppersurface thereby requiring the application of substantial force to movethe same to the open position; means for movin said gate includinginterengaging rack and pinion means carried by the underside of saidgate and said hopper respectively, said pinion means having asubstantially square aperture therethrough, a shaft having asubstantially square solid cross-section substantially from one end tothe other rotatably mounted on said hopper and extending through andunattached to said pinion means whereby the same is rotatable with andaxially slidable on said shaft and torque applied to said shaft forrotatin said pinion means and movin said gate loaded as aforesaid istransmitted thereto through said shaft where the same is of solidcross-section and unlikely to be broken by the application of suchtorque, and means for applying operating torque to said shaft at alocation where the same is of solid cross-section between said locationand said .pinion means; and means limiting relative axial movementbetween said shaft and pinion means including fixed abutment meanscarried by said hopper and cooperating with said pinion means.

3. For combination with a load containing hopper having a dischargeopening, a generally horizontally slidable gate for closing said openingand adapted to have the load in the hopper bear against its uppersurface thereby requiring the application of substantial force to movethe same to the open position; means for moving said gate includinginterengaging rack and pinion means carried by the underside of saidgate and said hopper respectively, said pinion means having anoncircular uniform aperture therethrough, a shaft having a non-circularsolid cross-section substantially from one end to the other rotatablymounted on said hopper and extending through and unattached to saidpinion. means whereby the same is rotatable with and axially slidable onsaid shaft and torque applied to said shaft for rotating said pinionmeans and moving said gate loaded as aforesaid is transmitted theretothrough said shaft where the same is of solid cross-section and unlikelyto be broken by the application of such torque, and means for applyingoperating torque to said shaft at a location where the same is of solidcross-section between said location and said pinion means; and meanslimiting relative axial movement between said shaft and pinion meansincluding a pair of fixed walls extending from said hopper andstraddling said pinion means.

4. In combination, a frame and a generally horizontally sliding gateassembly for the discharge opening of a load containing hopper where theload therein bears against the upper surface of said gate therebyrequiring the application of substantial force to move the same to openposition, said frame being foursided for bordering the discharge openingand one side thereof being slotted for the passage of said gatetherethrough and presenting an end wall extending transversely of andbelow the path of movement of said gate; means for moving said gateincluding interengagin rack and pinion means carried by the underside ofsaid gate and said frame respectively, said pinion means having asubstantially square aperture therethrough, a shaft having asubstantially square solid cross-section substantially from one end tothe other rotatably mounted on opposite sides of said frame andextending through and unattached to said pinion means whereby the sameis rotatable with and axially slidable on said shaft and torque appliedto said shaft for rotating said pinion means and moving said gate loadedas aforesaid is transmitted thereto through said shaft where the same isof solid cross-section and unlikely to be broken by the application ofsuch torque, and means for applying operating torque to said shaft at alocation where the same is of solid cross-section between said locationand said pinion means; and means limiting relative axial movementbetween said shaft and pinion means including fixed abutment meansextending laterally from said end wall and cooperating with said pinionmeans.

5. In combination, a frame and a generally horizontally sliding gateassembly for the discharge opening of a load containing hopper where theload therein bears against the upper surface of said gate therebyrequiring the application of substantial force to movethe same to openposition, said frame being foursided for bordering the discharge openingand one side thereof being slotted for the passage of said gatetherethrough and presenting an end wall extending transverse- 1y of andbelow the path of movement of said ate, the sides of said frame adjacentthe ends of said slot extendin therebeyond; means for moving said gateincluding interengaging rack and pinion means carried by the undersideof said gate and said frame respectively, said pinion means having asubstantially square aperture therethrough, a shaft having asubstantially square solid cross-section substantially from one end tothe other rotatably mounted on opposite sides of said frame andextending through and unattached to said pinion means whereby the sameis rotatable with and axially slidable on said shaft and torque appliedto said shaft for rotating said pinion means and moving said gate loadedas aforesaid is transmitted thereto through said shaft Where the same isof solid cross-section and unlikely to be broken by the application ofsuch torque, and means for applying operating torque to said shaft at alocation where the same is of solid cross-section between said locationand said pinion means; and means limiting relative axial movementbetween said shaft and pinion means including said extended sides ofsaid frame to limit outward axial movement of said pinion means alongsaid shaft, and wall means extending laterally from said end wall andcooperating with said pinion means to limit inward axial movementthereof.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date Knudsen Dec. 22, 1891 Coleman Sept. 8, 1914 Hirsch et a1 Dec.1, 191 1 Walther Mar. 6, 1917 Schellinger May '7, 1918 Whitesell Jan.18, 1921 Clare Dec. 8, 1925 Sinden Aug. 29, 1933 Campbell Jan. 3, 1939Martin Dec. 20, 1949

